Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Quezon City

For one person, living is cheaper in Quezon City: $855 a month against $3,182 in Sydney, rent and utilities included – about $27,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,182
/mo nomad
Quezon City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sydney and in Quezon City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sydney and in Quezon City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,182 per month in Sydney vs $855 in Quezon City, rent included.

  • Sydney $3,182
  • Quezon City $855

A couple spends around $4,696 per month in Sydney vs $1,385 in Quezon City, rent included.

  • Sydney $4,696
  • Quezon City $1,385

A family of three spends $6,210 per month in Sydney vs $1,916 in Quezon City, rent included.

  • Sydney $6,210
  • Quezon City $1,916

Sydney costs about 272% more than Quezon City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Sydney sits 137% above the global median, while Quezon City is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 A$25.28
$4.45 ₱279
296.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.1 A$139
$18.78 ₱1,178
416.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 A$17.09
$2.86 ₱179
317.48%
Cappuccino
$4.00 A$5.72
$2.77 ₱174
44.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 A$4.06
$0.69 ₱43.17
311.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 A$3.25
$0.29 ₱18.35
682.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 A$11.29
$1.47 ₱92.5
436.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 A$10.20
$2.72 ₱171
162.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 A$2.38
$1.71 ₱107
-2.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 A$4.00
$1.15 ₱72.1
142.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.33
$0.85 ₱53.0
172.94%
Eggs
$5.53 A$7.92
$1.76 ₱110
214.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.08 A$17.28
$6.83 ₱428
76.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.84 A$14.09
$4.29 ₱269
129.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.61 A$23.78
$7.29 ₱457
127.85%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 A$5.76
$3.84 ₱241
4.69%
Banana (1kg)
$3.15 A$4.51
$1.42 ₱88.9
121.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 A$5.01
$3.57 ₱224
-1.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 A$6.39
$1.14 ₱71.3
292.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 A$4.76
$2.40 ₱150
38.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.30
$3.45 ₱217
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 A$3.35
$1.38 ₱86.3
69.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 A$1.65
$0.97 ₱61.0
18.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.02 A$64.4
$2.84 ₱178
1485.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.96 A$19.97
$7.62 ₱478
83.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.98 A$5.70
$1.30 ₱81.4
206.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 A$5.82
$1.76 ₱110
131.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.16 A$4.52
$0.40 ₱24.91
690.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$150 A$215
$18.79 ₱1,179
698.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 A$4.94
$0.76 ₱47.86
353.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 A$2.33
$0.21 ₱13.15
676.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.98 A$57.2
$2.47 ₱155
1518.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 A$2.01
$1.19 ₱74.4
17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$40.7K
$21.0K ₱1.3M
35.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K A$42.1K
$18.9K ₱1.2M
55.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 A$315
$165 ₱10.3K
33.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.70 A$39.64
$14.28 ₱896
93.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5 A$79.5
$24.21 ₱1,518
129.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.3 A$106
$37.71 ₱2,365
97.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.95 A$34.28
$3.41 ₱214
602.35%
Cinema Ticket
$17.73 A$25.37
$7.22 ₱453
145.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,157 A$3,087
$73.1 ₱4,583
2851.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K A$40.5K
$2,472 ₱155.1K
1044.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 A$112
$35.88 ₱2,250
118.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.5 A$101
$22.30 ₱1,398
216.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$159
$79.5 ₱4,989
39.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 A$189
$75.4 ₱4,729
74.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,514 A$3,598
$314 ₱19.7K
699.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,732 A$2,478
$190 ₱11.9K
809.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,889 A$6,996
$746 ₱46.8K
555.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,039 A$4,349
$520 ₱32.6K
484.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.2K A$18.9K
$2,326 ₱145.9K
468.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,117 A$11.6K
$1,421 ₱89.1K
471.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney
Quezon City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,082 A$5,842
$440 ₱27.6K
826.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
7
-16.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sydney: October 5, 2026

Last update for Quezon City: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sydney
$1.7K
Quezon City
$190 89% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Sydney
$380
Quezon City
$207 45.6% $173
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
$303
Quezon City
$203 33% $100
Eating Out
Sydney
$299
Quezon City
$94 68.5% $205
Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
$176
Quezon City
$96 45.6% $81
Getting Around
Sydney
$174
Quezon City
$22 87.3% $152
Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
$110
Quezon City
$52 52.5% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,514 in Sydney versus $314 in Quezon City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 827% higher in Sydney, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $97.0 in Sydney versus $19.00 in Quezon City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $380 vs $207 – making Quezon City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Sydney
🇵🇭 Quezon City
🕒 Local time
23:59 11:59 PM
20:59 8:59 PM
3 h behind Sydney
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,840,600
2,936,116
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sydney Quezon City 6,270 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sydney
  • Quezon City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Sydney vs Quezon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sydney or Quezon City?
Sydney costs about 272% more than Quezon City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sydney and in Quezon City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,774 per month in Sydney and $1,282 in Quezon City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sydney or Quezon City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quezon City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Sydney and in Quezon City?
Kindergarten costs $2,157 per month in Sydney and $73.1 in Quezon City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Sydney or in Quezon City?
Groceries cost about 84% more in Sydney, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sydney or in Quezon City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quezon City, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Sydney at $3,182. In Quezon City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sydney or Quezon City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quezon City costs $855 versus $3,182 in Sydney. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sydney compared to Quezon City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Sydney or to Quezon City?
If budget matters most, go with Quezon City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sydney makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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